Back at Haldirith, Lusseriel was enjoying the warmth of a fire, as her companions all went to rest. She picked up her notebook and doodled a bit on the page, thinking. And if her drawings all looked more or less like various poisonous plants, it was entirely incidental and it’s not like anyone else would notice.
“Today
We left Caras Galadhon to return to Stangard. Salhael and Rhudorn both looked relieved to be finally leaving.
I think some of the residents seemed also relieved to see us go, but I couldn’t swear it and I have no idea why they’d enjoy our departure.
On the way we stopped in Haldirith for Corudan to get back his favorite bow. But because it’d have been too easy, the favorite bow he lent to someone was stolen by an orc.
Because of course I have a favorite weapon with which I’m more efficient so the first thing I’ll do is lend it to others to use, of course… More so now when we never know when darkness will rise and a stronghold or camp may be lost or when you don't know when a weapon will come in handy in emergency. Of course. Because that’s logical…
Sometimes I wonder why people don’t remember more lessons from the past. I’m not even talking of the far past of a land buried beneath the sea, just of the more recent past. I mean… Eregion, Moria, hells, even that dwarven kingdom… What’s it called… Erebor? I mean. Emergencies can happen. If you have a weapon you’re more proficient with, you KEEP IT AT HAND ! It’s not that complicated a notion right?
Or even if you don’t keep it at hand you at least don’t lend it to someone who’s going on a mission and may lose it to an orc attack.
But anyway, we went out and tried to find the bow… To no avail, which, I’m sure, surprised everyone…
But anyway, we finally went back to Stangard to find Horn and surprise, surprise, the Rohirrim were finally so not open-minded that : one they don’t quite like us and make it very, excessively clear, and two they told us to “take Horn with us, take him and be gone”.
And all that for the “crime” of helping Nona and bringing her to Lothlorien. Why do we even bother to try and help those people? With their attitude, they’ll end up alone against Mordor anyway. I’m sure their sense of self-importance would serve them well then.
When entering the city I forgot to put my hood up. Ilthirian reminded me of that detail, though honestly I wouldn’t have been too put out if the presence of an elf had started a fight.
We helped Horn to gather his belongings quickly.
And then Salhael told us that she couldn’t join us on our journey from here.
Ilthirien started to tell her that and here I quote : “If it’s something Lusseriel said…”
Well, anyone who doesn’t like what I have to say can either ignore me or leave.
I’m not picky but I have a neat preference for them leaving.
But no, it turns out that it wasn’t something I said. Salhael is one of those who were exiled from Rohan, apparently for disagreeing with the king.
That is, if that excuse is the truth and not just a convenient reason to leave before a trap springs on us. Or perhaps her spying was needed elsewhere and with Rhudorn here she wasn’t necessary anymore. Who knows. And of course, now that Horn is joining us…
Because yes, Horn decided that he could as well follow Nona us.
I was just waiting for Andrahir to welcome him with open arms as is his habit, but he turned to me to debate the subject, not that he was going to listen anyway.
When I mentioned that to him, Rolegard intervened in the conversation and told me that they all listened, they just didn’t always follow my advice. Which is fair enough.
But when it comes to our safety, and welcoming with open arms people we know nothing about when we’re in a situation where the wrong information given to the wrong person could lead to a disaster for the rest of Middle Earth, I’d hope that caution would win out at least once in a while.
If it turns out to be a trap from the King of Rohan or worst, I’ll remind both of them that it was their decision to welcome every stray person looking remotely capable to hold a weapon that got us into trouble.
Also as I told them, from now on, I give up. They can welcome whoever they want, if I have proof that there’s a danger, I’ll act on it and damn the consequences, but I’ll otherwise draw the line at orcs. If they try to adopt an orc into our group, I’ll kill both the orcs and them and be done with it. They’re warned.
Also, half-orcs, quarter-orcs, repentant orcs, lone orcs, baby orcs (you never know…), injured orcs, dying orcs, all that count under the appellation orc. If it has an orc somewhere in their lineage, I don’t care, it counts!
And yes I feel the need to make a list of what counts under the appellation orc because Rolegard muttered something along the line of “I wonder if an orc would like my cooking”.
That doesn’t give confidence in his ability to make decision about who to welcome or not…
Also, if he’s willing to throw himself into the pot, yes, they’d certainly like it. And if he tries to feed one so help me I’m stashing him in a box and handing the box to the first messenger that cross my path to send him straight back to the Shire.
Rhudorn decided to keep traveling with us, despite “fearing that I may never trust him”. Which, I mean, he was rather right on that point. I'm so glad we understand each other...
And so we finally left Stangard, leaving Salhael behind, but bringing Horn with us, which means we still have the same amount of potential spies with us.
We went back to Haldirith and as we gathered in a corner, Ardirien arrived. Apparently she wasn’t injured, according to her.
She apparently returned home in order to put her ideas back in order. Which, fair enough. No one here would have stopped her from doing so… IF SHE HAD THOUGHT TO WARN US BEFORE JUST DISAPPEARING !
If there was one bad habit she would have been best served by not picking up from Arcangar, it was that one. If he was there, he’d hear it loud and clear. Bad enough he had that bad habit, but he had no need to spread it around.
Oh well…
Our two new… Travel companions, I guess, introduced themselves to her, and Brunnadan quite frankly reacted strangely to Ardirien's presence. That does exactly nothing to make me want to trust him.
However I'm starting to wonder if she perhaps met him somewhere before.
We decided to spend the night here in relative safety before leaving by morning.”
Lusseriel doodled a bit on her notebook before starting to write again :
"I'm glad Ardirien came back and was apparently safe during her travels."
Lusseriel froze when she heard noise outside the walls of the camp. She put her notebook silently back in her bag and picked up her sword just in case, as did every elf still awake.
Lusseriel looked around and saw some of her companions sleeping deeply, and rose to join the sentry, just in case.
